REVIEW: Dynorphins in Regulation of Immune System Functions

---

S. V. Gein^1,2

¹Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Goleva 13, 614081 Perm, Russia; E-mail: gein@iegm.ru

²Perm State University, ul. Bukireva 15, 614990 Perm, Russia

Received October 28, 2013; Revision received January 9, 2014

---

Dynorphins constitute a family of opioid peptides manifesting the highest affinity for κ-opiate receptors. Immune system cells are known to express a κ-receptor similar to that in the central nervous system, and as a consequence dynorphins are involved in the interaction between cells of the nervous and immune systems. In this review, data on dynorphin structure are analyzed and generalized, the κ-opiate receptor is characterized, and data on the regulation by dynorphins of functioning of the innate and adaptive immunity cells are summarized.

---

KEY WORDS: dynorphin, κ-opiate receptor, immunoregulatory effects, monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, NK-cells, dendritic cells, cAMP

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297914050034

---